My Sailor Dad

by Ross H. Mackenzie

*** Awarded a GOLD MEDAL in 2010 for Best Children's Book (Children under 12) by the Military Writer's Society of America. ***My Sailor Dad is a loving tribute to all families Navy and non-military. The book uses lively text and beautiful illustrations to celebrate the sacrifices of today's sailors, to showcase the awesome scale of today's Navy, and to serve as an invaluable resource to Navy families who struggle with questions Why do you have to go to sea? Does your job really matter? Do you love me when you are gone? Will you ever come home? This is a massive word-of-mouth hit in Navy communities and a must have for any deploying families with small children.

32 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Ross H. Mackenzie graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in English Literature. He also earned a Master’s from St. John’s College (Annapolis) and attended Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

A former Navy pilot, Mr. Mackenzie deployed multiple times on eight different ships to many parts of the world during his 20-year military career. While in the Navy, Mr. Mackenzie taught English literature and writing at the U.S. Naval Academy for four years.

Mr. Mackenzie finds his passions in wide open spaces as an avid cyclist, hiker, and sportsman. He is a devoted father and husband and makes him home in Florida.

Please visit www.patriot-kids.com for more information about Mr. Mackenzie, and the award-winning Patriot Kids book series. You may also visit herokidsbookproject.org, a certified 501(c)(3) public charity, to learn how to help military families through books!

Reviews

[Cemeread]

What stood out to me immediately when first skimming this book were the illustrations. It is difficult to find good books that represent different cultural backgrounds and appeal to boys. My Sailor Dad's illustrations show people of not just one group, but varied ethnic groups. The book can also be enjoyed by girls as well. There is so much more than the story to talk about with your children from the flags of different countries, moon phases, and whales, to the signal flags. (See if you can decode the message.) The story explains Navy jobs, objects found on the ship, and why Dad has to leave for awhile, all on a young child's level.